The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-10
Cause of Drouth and Cyclones.

Cause of Drouth and Cyclones.
/ During recent journey IN Europe the
passage across the ocean was especially
unpleasant, because Of fogs, the only con-
ISOLATION in contemplating them being
that they represented the work Of Nature
in drawing moisture from the water.
which, waited inland, fell upon the soil
in refreshing rain, gathered in the brooks
and rivers and flowed to the sea, 10 be
again thus sent back 10 freshen the par
ched soil
The speed Of our vessel was materially
retarded by winds from the west. a com
mon occurrence in the summer season.
The fogs and moisture Though these
winds are driven upon the Continent
where drouth seldom prevails, and par
ticularly do they freslen the vcrlure Of
Ireland. and hence the brilliant green Of
| the Emerald Isle
/ In rejecting upon this subject. con-
templated the lroath then prevailing in
several of the Western and Middle States
of the Union What had they to gather
rains fruni7 Alas, what bad they For
a generation the farm srs have been drain
ing their lands Of moisture They have
run their thing through every slongh !;
they have drawn out the water from
every swamp; they have dried mp the
pond they have 0bIterated the be;Iuti-
ful little lake. In doing this they have
made sueh easy and rapid egress for rain
I fall from the soil as 10 endang.r the farm
lands Of all the settlers along the great
| rivers in the Southern regions Of our
country. already infiicting great distress,
loss of life, and property equaling in vai-
ue many millions Of dollars-an evil that
Is growing in magnitude each year
The result Of this wholesale draining
of the upper country Of water is not only
disastrous to life and property along the
larger streams. from frequent overflow,
but there is such absolute drainage Of
moisture from the earth as 10 produce
severe drouth, accompanied by such in
tense heat and dryness OF atmosphere as
results in the hurricane. the cyclone, and
innunIersbse village, prairie and forest
fires.
In early days when the process Of
evaporation of moisture went forward
from the swamps, the ponds and lakes Of
our Western and Middle States, an ex
tended drought, with extremely intense
heat. was a rare occurrence. In those
days sun-stroke was very uncommon, and
the cyclone was comparatively unknown.
This year we are in the second season Of
drouth in various portions Of the country
while every year brings its devastation
from wind, the result Of an excessively
dry and frequently disturbed condition
of the atmosphere.
With the land thus denuded of natu-
raj water supply. there Is but one course
for our farmers to pursue to save them
selves from these evils. They may drain
their soil, but they should gather the
rainfall in ponds and lakes scattered all
throughout their lands. Instead of run
| ming the drains through and out of the
swamp, they should lead to an excava-
ton OF such size as circumstances viii
permit. which should be made AT depth
Of three or four feet, where the water can
gather and will remain during the year.
quenching the thirst Of animals, giving
drink to birds reservoir in case Of fire. a
| home for fish, a place Of beauty on which
one may sail the boat, an opportunity for
the bath and for teaching the young peo-
pie To swim. This will yield ice for the
family, provide skating for the happy
youth in the winter time, and moisture,
which, through evaporation. viii pass in
To the cloud 70 he returned again through
rainfall 10 the needy earth
No fear need be entertained Of stagna-
ton from water thus held in reserve
Fish will themselves purify it. Every
rain viii change it. while, if the lake COW
ers an acre or more in AREA. the wind viii
constantly keep it pure. In proof Of this
the writer has an artificial lake on his
farm, the result Of dredging swamp.
which Is filed only by rainfall, the wa
ter being, in the dryest season. always
perfectly clear and fresh
On the low lands the general abandon
ment of farms and homes from river
overflow will be the inevitable outcome
ofthis water wastage in the high grounds
such is already the fact, while the ex-
penditure Of many millions Of dollars by
the government, in the construction Of
levees and embaDkments along the great
rivers, will be necessary for the further
protection of property Vastly better
that this expenditure be made in holding
the water where il is required in the up
country
Dot the farms Of our Inland States with
ponds and miniature lakes, and while
they will afford health, attraction and
pleasure in a thousand ways, they viii
give US back the uniform rainfall we had
in the early settlement of our country.
when successive seasons of droufh, forest
fires and cyclones were unknown